Did this NBA Star Play For The New York Knicks? Test Your NBA Knowledge!
- by Dylan Jacob
- – on
- in Sports
"This was on my vision board. To run out there and be hitting game winners, getting the fans riled up. When they're stomping on the floor yelling 'New York Knicks'—that's a great feeling." -- Former New York Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony.
Things haven't been fun for the New York Knicks lately, not with the team missing the playoffs for five straight seasons and losing All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis to a torn ACL this season. Not when other draft picks haven't panned out and the team continues to have a musical chair of head coaches.
But, let's be a bit optimistic and nostalgic today as we look at some recent NBA stars to see if they played for the Knickerbockers. All of the players on here played into the 2000s and are officially retired, so you won't have to worry about picking someone active who, for all we know, could join the Knicks this summer.
The rule here is that they have to have played for the Knicks, so if someone was traded to the team or signed with them, but never suited up, the correct answer would be they didn't play for the team. Make sure to read the descriptions because there may be some hints or puns in there to help you.
Kobe Bryant
Next season is going to be three years since the Kobe Bryant retirement tour. Will the Lakers finally make the playoffs for the first time since 2012-13? It all depends how things go this offseason, honestly, though I'm sure Knick fans are glad Kobe is happily retire because Bean was unstoppable when he came to Madison Square Garden. Anyone remember that 61 point game in 2009 with the Lakers? Did Kobe ever get to get MSG going as a member of the Knicks?
Allen Iverson
We know how good Allen Iverson was and how much fun he was to watch, but I'll leave it at this: When Iverson returned to Philadelphia midway through the 2009-10 season, there was no one rooting for him to fail there. Even if the Sixers were struggling that season, everyone wanted Iverson to play like his old form and maybe will a miracle postseason run. A.I. was the first YouTube player for a reason. Did Iverson ever play for the Knicks?
Amar'e Stoudemire
Amar'e Stoudemire is the poster boy for how Hall of Fame careers can be derailed by injuries. If Stoudemire stayed healthy with the Suns, he would have made the Hall of Fame even if injuries bit him later in his career. That's how good the All-Star was out by the desert and I'm sure that the Suns are looking for the next Amar'e after landing the top pick in next month's draft. (Hint: draft DeAndre Ayton.) Was Stoudemire ever a Knick?
Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady surprised many by making the Hall of Fame last year, though the debate about him getting inducted is still happening for some reason. Can we just leave it at McGrady was dominant and those who have a vote thought he deserved to make it in? It didn't help McGrady's case that he became a journeyman at the end of his career, kind of like Captain America in Infinity War. Were the Knicks one of the many teams McGrady played for?
Yao Ming
Are people still getting into the debate of Yao being in the Hall of Fame? The Basketball Hall of Fame takes global impact into the equation as well, so Yao changing the game and bringing it more publicity in China helps his case more than it would in other sports. That's why Stephon Marbury has a legitimate chance of getting in. When Yao was healthy, he was unstoppable and the Rockets really should have won a title with him and McGrady. But did Ming ever dominate for the New York Knicks?
Shaquille O'Neal
The Big Diesel! We have to include Shaq on here, but we promise not to talk about any of his movies - although we did enjoy Blue Chips a lot - or his rapping. We'll leave that to Kobe Bryant. Shaq now stars in insurance commercials, lends expert analysis on TNT, and even has his own podcast. Is it still your own podcast if you host it with other people? Eh. Did Shaq ever fin himself playing for the Knicks?
Jason Kidd
Congrats to one of the newest Hall of Famers in longtime NBA point guard Jason Kidd. No, Kidd's struggles as the coach of the Nets and the Bucks - and even then, struggles is the word other people prefer using; the guy was fine in both spots - should not have impacted his voting at all. If you forget how good Jason Kidd was in his prime, YouTube exists for a reason. Did Kidd ever suit up as a player for the Knicks?
Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace may not be making the Hall of Fame, though he certainly has a place in the Hall of Very Good for his defensive efforts with the Pistons during their attempt at a dynasty. And while I'm sure everyone wanted a picture of Wallace with his trademark afro, I think this is good enough. You instead get the menacing glare that helped him dominate on defense for years. Was Ben Wallace ever a member of the New York Knicks?
Chauncey Billups
It's no surprise that Chauncey Billups has been great on ESPN - when he's on The Jump, he's the smartest person at the table - but will a Hall of Fame berth be coming in the next few years? I'm still torn because while I think the Basketball Hall of Fame is easier to get into than other sports, Billups doesn't have the same legacy that other point guards did. Let us know what you think and let us know if Billups ever played for the Knicks.
Rasheed Wallace
I still love these mid 2000s Pistons team and Rasheed Wallace, a physical beast in the paint, was so fun to watch. This was around the time i really got into caring about the NBA and I remember being in awe of these huge players like Wallace who could body someone, stand over them, and then score on the other end without looking like bullies. Wallace played on some other teams besides the Pistons, but were the Knicks one of them?
Paul Pierce
This June will be ten years since Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics won their last NBA Finals. As of when we're writing this quiz, they have a chance at making the Finals for the first time since 2010 after going up 2-0 on the Cavaliers. I can't get over that it's been a decade since Pierce was named Finals MVP for his efforts, which included the theory that he left a game early to use the bathroom. Did Pierce ever play for the Knicks?
Kevin Garnett
Has The Big Ticket really already gone two years without playing in a game? I've made no secret in the past that I'm a Nets fan, and while the infamous Pierce/Garnett trade didn't work out the way everyone intended it to, I will say I was happy to watch KG play well in spurts while in Brooklyn. I'm also glad the team did right by him and sent him to Minnesota, which also landed them Thaddeus Young. Was Garnett ever a Knick?
Ray Allen
Allen could always make it splash, which is something I feel I've written on here before. Groundhog Day was always proven true when Allen lined up to take a shot behind the arc, as he was Stephen Curry even when the two-time NBA MVP entered the league in 2009. Does that mean Allen is better than Curry? No, but if you only remember Allen's late-career antics for the Heat, go watch him on YouTube. Did Allen ever nail threes for the Knicks?
Alonzo Mourning
How can you beat a picture like that? The lighting, the motion. It's stuff like that a journalist like me enjoys in a picture. I'm far from artsy and I won't bore you with any analysis on why this picture is so cool, but just look at it again. Anyway, Mourning was a dominant center in his prime for the Miami Heat, but also played for some other teams along the way. Were the New York Knicks ever one of those teams?
Allan Houston
"Oh, Allan Houston is in a suit so that means he played for the Knicks and I can just hit yes." Maybe we wanted to make sure the picture of Houston looked really good for this quiz! There's other people on this quiz in suits too. Assuming things is a bad trait, especially if you're trying to get a perfect score on a quiz like this. Don't make us lecture you more. Go and tell us if Houston ever was a Knick.
Glen Rice
Important question to chew on: where does Glen Rice rank among the top players in Heat history? Do LeBron James and Chris Bosh get boosts because of what they did in shorter stints and them winning titles? Is Rice still top five? If you're ever around Heat fans who have clearly been fans of the team since the Shaq days, ask them that question. For now, we have another question for you: was Rice, the ex-Heat star, ever on the rival Knicks?
Andrew Bynum
The nostalgia is real here, as many have been discussing Andrew Bynum's quick peak and quicker downfall lately, six years after the All-Star was beginning to be called the game's second best center behind only Dwight Howard. Bynum was a force in the paint when healthy for the Lakers, though a 2012 trade to Philadelphia followed by injuries meant his career was about to take a serious nosedive. As Bynum bounced around after L.A., did he ever stop in New York?
Lamar Odom
The running gag with NBA Twitter lately is that Kobe Bryant won those two titles in 2008-09 and 2009-10 all by himself with just a little bit of help from Pau Gasol. Does no one remember how electric Lamar Odom was as the sixth man who could also start a game and then catch fire off the bench? People need to do more research into something that was only...ten and nine years ago. I'm getting old. Was Odom ever a Knick?
Ron Artest/Metta World Peace
The only player on here with two names, I stand by the belief that Ron Artest is going to surprise people as a coach. Artest spent this past season as an asst. coach for the Lakers' G League team and we heard no bad reports, so he should be one of those guys that starts climbing the ladder. That's when we need an NBA version of Hard Knocks to hear how Artest mentors players on fouls and fighting. Was Artest/World Peace ever a Knick?
Dikembe Mutombo
No no no! If we couldn't get a shot of Mutombo finger wagging an opponent, we might have resorted to the GEICO commercial because that's what most people know him for. No no no! Mutombo is another player who would have been great to watch in the Twitter era, where highlights are uploaded instantly and people can react to blocked shots followed by a wagged finger in the face. We're into fun things like that. Did Mutombo ever play for the Knicks?
Kenyon Martin
If the 2000 NBA Draft wasn't so notoriously disappointing, we might forget that Kenyon Martin was the No. 1 overall pick that year. But because Martin turned out to be a fine player for several teams, we remember him as one of the only good players from that year's draft. Martin's personality could rub some the wrong way, especially former Nuggets coach George Karl, though there's no denying the powerful forward loved playing basketball and the opportunity to win. Was he ever a Knick?
Baron Davis
Baron Davis was awesome, even if he didn't get the point guard attention that guys like Steve Nash or Jason Kidd did. This guy was so fun to watch when he was healthy and it's a shame things really never worked out in Los Angeles with the Clippers. Can you imagine a healthy Davis and Blake Griffin when both still had their early athleticism? The two did at least play together for a bit in 2010-11. Was Davis ever a Knick?
Stephen Jackson
Do you have favorite players who were really good at times - good enough to where they were All-Star candidates each season - and never truly superstars, but could have been if they stayed on their game? I'm talking about guys like Stephen Jackson, not one-hit wonders or guys who peaked early. Jackson was clutch, he was fun to watch, and he was vocal which gave him a personality. If you have a player like that, let us know, but for now, tell us if Jackson was ever a Knick.
Chris Bosh
Bosh still hasn't officially retired, but I have to think if he was coming back in any form, we'd have seen him already. Blood clots ended his career prematurely and the most important thing for everyone is that the future Hall of Famer is now living a healthy life, one that will most likely include a TV job in the coming years. Look not only for TNT to make a big push, but the Heat's local network. Was Bosh ever on the Knicks?
David Lee
Chances are that the Golden State Warriors are going to win the NBA Finals this season. David Lee signed with the franchise in 2010 when all they had was a young, somewhat raw Stephen Curry. Lee was never a superstar in Oakland, but was vital in helping the team rebuild and prepare to become the dynasty of the 2010s - and the guy did win a ring in the 2014-15 season, so good for him. Was Lee ever on the Knicks?
Antonio McDyess
Antonio McDyess had an interesting career in terms of we mostly remember him for his time in Detroit, but he was a quality player with both Phoenix and San Antonio. I only think of it as interesting because of recency bias and player peaks and all the stuff that make sports journalists happy. McDyess was never a star, though he got the job done and his physical play brought on many fans. Was McDyess ever able to show off those skills with the Knicks?
Gilbert Arenas
Agent Zero's in the house! I did not realize until this week that next year will be ten years since Arenas and Jarvis Crittenton got into their infamous locker room fight where guns wound up being drawn. Has time really gone by that fast? Do you know what I was doing ten years ago? Not paying attention in class and watching the Nets seemingly tank. What were you doing ten years ago? More importantly, was Arenas ever a New York Knick?
Latrell Sprewell
I can't get over those braids. Latrell Sprewell was always a bit of a free spirit who could be a bit risky at times - this is the same guy who once choked his head coach - but those braids are just...cool. I know DeAndre Jordan has experimented with a similar look in recent years, though I can't see anyone pulling off the braided cornrow look now the way that Sprewell did for his entire career. Was he ever a Knick?
Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson may be best known now as the ESPN commentator and former Golden State Warriors head coach who is always tied to coaching vacancies, so it may be easy to forget he was once an All-Star point guard for several teams. In fact, Jackson playing into the mid 2000s makes him eligible for a quiz like this. Maybe the next time we do something like this, we'll be using a picture of Jackson coaching his new team. Was Jackson ever a Knick?
Steve Francis
I'm not a fan of those Rocket uniforms by any stretch of the imagination, though I was a fan of Steve Francis' game. This was another of those NBA Live and NBA 2K guys that was more of a triple-double machine than you'd ever imagine. Injuries cut Francis' time in the league short, though when you're done here, I suggest reading his recent story in The Player's Tribune about dealing drugs as a teenager and how he barely made it to the NBA.
Stephon Marbury
Remember when Stephon Marbury played for the Phoenix Suns? I'm interested to how many former All-Stars and elite players from the four major sports that were born in either the U.S. or Canada join Marbury as being more known for their exploits in a country like China or Japan where they could play the sport and became stars there. I'd have to think Marbury is the most successful one given him becoming the face of China, right? No, Dennis Rodman doesn't count. Was Marbury ever a Knick?
Elton Brand
Think back to older NBA 2Ks when, as was the case in real life, having a center that could make up for his lack of scoring by grabbing a ton of rebounds was acceptable. Sure, you obviously wanted Shaq or Yao Ming as your center if you did a fantasy draft, but getting Brand and knowing he'd average 12-14 rebounds a night was so worth it in the right offense. Did Elton Brand and his rebounds ever play for the Knicks?
Brandon Roy
Brandon Roy remains one of the NBA's greatest, recent what-ifs after a rash of injuries ended his prime and career prematurely. But I think you have to enjoy what Roy has done in retirement as a high school basketball coach in Washington, turning the Nathan Hale program into state champions in his first year. Roy always had a great mind for the game and it's cool to know teenagers are taking advantage of his knowledge. Did Roy play for the Knicks?
Marcus Camby
Every time I think of Marcus Camby, I remember Kendrick Lamar's lyrics on "Ronald Reagan Era" where he compares someone who's washed up to the longtime NBA center. Camby played for many teams and was nothing more than a reserve body to use in the paint for 15 or so minutes a night at the end of his career. But the guy kept getting jobs, so who could blame him for wanting to play? Did Camby ever suit up for the Knicks?
Nate Robinson
When the Dunk Contest felt like it actually meant something, people tuned in to see what Nate Robinson was capable of doing. It didn't matter that Robinson was normally a sixth man or key reserve on the various teams he played for. Once Robinson accepted his Dunk Contest invite, he was taking off and, had Twitter existed in his prime dunking years, would have broken the internet. Him and Dwight Howard. Did Robinson ever pull off any insane dunks for the Knicks?